Dynamo 1, San Jose 2 - postgame notes

The
Houston Dynamo completely dominated Saturday’s game against the San Jose
Earthquakes, outshooting San Jose 16-6, but were undone by two goals on
counterattacks in a 2-1 loss at Robertson Stadium.

Shortly
after two chances in the attacking end of the field, the Dynamo allowed the
opening goal in the sixth minute when San Jose’s Geovanni, making his first MLS
start, broke free on the right and sent in a low cross that Khari Stephenson
one-timed into the left side of the net.

It
was the second consecutive game in which the Dynamo allowed a goal in the first
10 minute; Colorado scored two minutes into last week’s match. Houston has
allowed the first goal in 14 of its 23 matches this season; it is 1-12-1 in
those games.

Houston
controlled possession throughout the half but struggled to get its shots on
goal. The Dynamo finally broke through in first-half stoppage time, when Brian
Mullan broke free along the end line. After his initial cross was blocked, he
floated a ball in toward the penalty spot, and Brad Davis rose to direct an
accurate header inside the left-hand post for his fifth goal of the season, tying last year's total as the second-highest of his career. It
was the first headed goal of Davis’ professional career. Mullan earned his
third assist of the season.

The
Dynamo continued to dominate in the second half, outshooting the Earthquakes
10-2. San Jose goalkeeper Jon Busch made five total saves on the night to keep
the Dynamo out of the net again, and the Earthquakes got the game-winning goal
in the 64th minute. A well-worked counterattack on the left wing led to a
cross, which was deflected toward the top of the penalty area. Geovanni reached
it first and lashed a low shot past Pat Onstad for the game-winning goal.

Houston
pushed forward, aided by an 84th-minute red card to San Jose’s Sam Cronin, but
could not tie the match.

The
Dynamo began the match without forward Brian Ching due to a calf strain and
missed his presence in front of goal, but Ching came on as a late substitute in
the 82nd minute. Houston also played without starting midfielder Lovel Palmer
(Jamaican national team) and reserve midfielder Francisco Navas Cobo (U.S. U-20
national team).

The
loss drops Houston’s home record in the regular season to 5-4-3 in 2010, the
most losses the Dynamo have ever suffered at Robertson Stadium in league play.
They lost three home games in their championship seasons of 2006 and 2007.

Houston
goalkeeper Pat Onstad made his 165th appearance for the Dynamo in all
competitions and wore the captain’s armband for the first time. It was also his
215th career MLS appearance. Midfielder Richard Mulrooney appeared in his 280th
career MLS game, 20th in league history, and midfielder Brian Mullan played in
his 250th league game, tied for 34th in league history.

DefenderBobby Boswell made the 160th appearance of his MLS career and his 110th
appearance for Houston in all competitions. Midfielder Corey Ashe played 12
minutes as a substitute to reach the 4,000-minute mark for his MLS regular
season career.

“They were very troublesome
tonight. Even before they scored, they had some chances in our area and took
advantage of a little lack of intensity on our part. And even on their second
goal. I don’t know what the shots were, but even their dangerous opportunities
in the second half … They took advantage of a ball that we played directly to
them and then ran through midfield. There are lots of circumstances of why we
are disappointed: It puts the playoff picture very bleak; we lost another home
game; it’s a game we should have had well in hand even before they got their
second goal. The first 45 minutes was probably the best half we played all
year, attacking-wise but we still need to score goals. If you don’t score goals,
it all goes for nothing.”

On the ramifications of the result
…

“It’s a heavy one, as I said
before. If we win tonight, we are three points behind San Jose. I think right
now those 29 points probably hold the last playoff spot. If you don’t
score goals and you don’t take it to their team when they are down, home or
away, [they] are always going to get one or two chances during the game, and I
think that’s what they got, those two chances, and they took advantage. At the
end of the day, they hit their chances and we missed ours, and that is what
counts.”

HOUSTON DYNAMO FORWARD CAM WEAVER

On the game …

“We had plenty of chances to win
the game. It feels terrible. I should have had a few, and I feel as if I let
the team down. As a striker, when you get those chances, you have to put them
away.”

On his chances …

“I’ve been doing a lot of finishing
in training, and I’ve been doing well in training. It was just a couple feet to
each side, and it’s really tough to swallow.”

HOUSTON DYNAMO GOALKEEPER PAT
ONSTAD

On wearing the captain’s armband

“It would have been a lot nicer
with the win. It was the first time in 215 [MLS] appearances, so it was a nice
nod from Dominic [Kinnear]. We had another fantastic performance tonight, but
we gave up two goals, and that’s all that really matters.”

HOUSTON DYNAMO MIDFIELDER BRAD
DAVIS

On the game …

“I thought we put together the best
game we have put together all year; we had a lot of good opportunities. They
had two chances, and they scored on both of them. That’s been the story of our
year, and that’s the way things have been going. We know where we are right now:
We have to win out, so that’s what is ahead of us.”

On the timing of his goal …

“To score right before halftime and
tie it up is always good. When you are on the other side, it’s a bit
disheartening, so I thought we were going to come out in the second half and do
the same thing, which I thought we did. They got one more opportunity on the
break, and they scored on it. It’s the way things have been going for us all
year. Two chances on two goals, and we had more chances in this game than we
had all year, and they just aren’t going in.”

On scoring with a header …

“I actually scored some goals in
training this week with my head, and guys were getting on my case, so it’s
pretty ironic that I come to the game and do the same thing.”